Many thanks to everyone who turned out on a balmy -2 degree Sunday morning!
It was great to see the amount of effort that everyone put in and, despite the occasional distraction, we have transformed a derelict site to a work in progress. Having cleared away all the rubbish, there is now space for the scaffolding that is scheduled to be delivered next week, ready to start work on the roof.
Onwards and upwards...literally!
Dear Members and friends
A short update on Boot activities and immediate plans. We have now received quotes for the scaffolding required to start on the roof repairs and making the property watertight and we hope, weather permitting, that this will be underway in the very near future. We are also in the next few days drawing up a draft tenancy agreement incorporating our community aims and vision, as outlined in our prospectus, with the help of Nick Davies at Hobsons and Sue Newbould our solicitor and also hope to move rapidly to appointing a tenant to run the Boot Pub business so they can be in place for reopening after the repairs are complete. More updates on next steps and progress to follow.
Also and hopefully in the supposed bright weather forecast we are having the first of our community tidy up days this Sunday and we would like to invite volunteers to come to the Boot at 10 am. We have a skip arriving and our aim is to clear out as much rubbish as possible, start on the garden and sort out what is useful or repairable from that that needs to go. This will all be based on outside activities with the back of the pub along with the garden and hedges to be investigated. Consequently please could you bring gardening equipment including shovels, wheel barrows and both rubber or gardening gloves as protective gear will be required.
Over the day we will also be drawing up lists of jobs both immediate and long term that will need doing in the next few months and if anyone has contacts, skills and expertise or any ideas of how they can help we would love to hear from you so we can coordinate these with the ongoing repairs and refurbishments. So please come and tell us what you can do or e mail us with your suggestions.
As promised we will also be setting up a barrel of beer and hopefully cider (for latter in the day post the hard work !) to both celebrate and reward the efforts of all concerned in making this community effort the success it has been. So finally please let us know if you are able to come on Sunday as we need to have a rough idea of numbers and consequently the number of jobs we can tackle.
Best Regards
John Alderman
Chair The Community Boot Inn (Orleton) Ltd
THE COMMUNITY BOOT INN (ORLETON) LIMITED A COMMUNITY BENEFIT SOCIETY
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The sale of Orleton’s Boot Inn to the Community Benefit Society, set up to ensure its future as a pub/restaurant after being closed for 18 months, has been completed.
Paying tribute to all those who supported the campaign to save the Grade ll listed buildings from housing development, Chair of the Society, John Alderman said, “we have received invaluable support from so many individuals and organisations without whom our vision to return the Boot to its former glory and indeed to turn it into ‘More than a Pub’, could not have been achieved. The ‘new’ Boot could include a daytime cafe with free WiFi, a meeting place for special interest groups, a venue for festivals and whatever else supports our community.
“Special mention must go to all our investors whose belief in the project and generosity exceeded our expectations. The scheme to buy shares in the project is still open to any individuals who have missed out and the more invested the less we have to borrow to complete the refurbishment.
“Also thanks to the Plunkett Foundation, an organisation that helps communities, particularly in rural locations, to take control of and overcome challenges that threaten their prosperity and well-being and last but not least, Herefordshire CAMRA, who have provided expert advice and support all along the way.”
Now the hard work begins to immediately protect against any further damage and then refurbish the buildings. The immediate priorities include repairing the roof, which is urgent, replacing windows and shoring up the listed ‘single cell building’ reputed to the smallest dwelling in Herefordshire and which was occupied until just 50 years ago.
The aim is to be ready to open for business sometime during the summer.
Ahead of that will be the task finding and appointing a tenant to manage the business.
John Alderman added, “we also need a big clean-up operation to clear and tidy the site and property and are planning a fun weekend, hoping for lots of volunteers! For more information and the latest updates please keep checking back here.
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For further information contact David Flory on 07534 302011
The Community Boot Inn (Orleton) Limited is now officially registered with the Financial Conduct Authority as a Community Benefit Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.
Our FCA register number is 7727.
The Community Boot Inn (Orleton) Limited is a member of the Plunkett Foundation via the Plunkett Community Co-operative Network (PCCN): Reference number PCEN138.